Collapsible tube squeezer



June 1967 c. B. WATSON, JR

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Sheet 1 2 Sheets Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR.

25 V m mw 5 5 5 m v m June 1967 c. B. WATSON, JR

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 United States Patent 3,325,057 COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Cornelius B. Watson, In, P.0. Box 832, Madison, Conn. 06443 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,563 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-103) This invention relates to improvements in devices for squeezing collapsible tubes for the purpose of dispensing the contents therefrom, and deals more particularly with devices which may be manually operated to dispense the contents of collapsible tubes.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improve-d tube squeezer having a novel case and squeezer mechanism structure to facilitate the placement of a tube into and the removal of a tube from the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tube squeezer having an inner case slidably received in an outer case and wherein the outer case lends rigidity to the inner case permitting the inner case to be made from a relatively resilient or thin material, if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube squeezing device wherein a tube is received and restrained against longitudinal movement relative to the device to prevent telescoping or accordioning of a tube while a squeezer mechanism operates longitudinally thereupon to dispense contents therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved squeezer device having a two-piece case assembly which may be readily disassembled and a manually operated ratchet and pawl dispensing mechanism having a holding pawl which in addition to cooperation with the ratchet also cooperates with the case parts to hold the said parts in assembled relation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a squeezer device having a two-piece case assembly which may be readily disassembled and including a ratchet and pawl operated squeezer mechanism having a holding pawl which is held in engagement with the ratchet mechanism when the case parts are assembled and which moves out of engagement with the ratchet mechanism when the case parts are disassembled to facilitate tube replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawing forming a part hereof.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube squeezer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tube squeezer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale view showing in front elevation the inner case of the tube squeezer of FIG. 1 and showing in half section the outer case, the squeezer in this view being shown empty of a tube and the squeezer mechanism being located at the bottom of the inner case.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3, and shows the device with a full tube and with a partially squeezed tube therein.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the inner case removed from the outer case.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional Patented June 13, 1967 view of the squeezer assembly as shown in FIG. 4, and shows the pivotal pressure member of the squeezer assembly in its open and closed positions.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3, and shows the outer case in both partial and full assembly with the inner case.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3, the squeezer in this view being shown with the squeezer mechanism located near the top of the inner case.

FIG. 10 is a perspective rear view of the inner case of the device of FIG. 1.

In the description that follows, relative terms such as front, back, side, top, bottom, upper and lower have been employed for convenience of description and refer to the tube squeezer oriented as shown in FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 to 4, a tube squeezer embodying the present invention, indicated generally at 10, is shown to comprise in general an inner case 12 for receiving and holding a tube to be squeezed, a squeezer assembly 14 located within and movable longitudinally of the inner case 12, an operating machanism 16 adapted for manual operation for the purpose of advancing the squeezer assembly 14 upwardly relative to the inner case, and a hollow elongated outer case 18 which normally surrounds the inner case 12.

The inner case 12 may be made from various materials and may take various forms, but preferably and as shown, it is made from a resilient plastic material, such as acrylic or vinyl plastic. The case 12 has a generally semi-elliptical transverse cross-sectional shape and includes a pair of transversely spaced apart elongated back walls 20, 20 which have longitudinally extending inwardly facing free edges 21, 21 that define a longitudinally extending slot 23 at the rear of the inner case for a purpose that will be hereinafter apparent. A pair of elongated side walls 22, 22 extend generally forwardly from the back walls 20, 20 and have longitudinally extending generally forwardly facing free edges 24-, 24 which define a longitudinally extending frontal opening 26 through which a tube may he moved in being placed into and in being taken out of the inner case 12. The upper end of the inner case body is closed by a top wall 28 which includes a downwardly facing recess 30 adapted to receive the discharge or nozzle end of a tube to be squeezed and which also includes a central aperture 32 adapted to accommodate the discharge nozzle of the tube projecting upwardly therethrough. In FIG. 4, the tube to be squeezed is shown by broken lines at 34 and its discharge nozzle at 36. It will be apparent that the downwardly facing wall of the recess 30 engages the upper end of the tube 34 to prevent the tube from moving upwardly relative to the inner case beyond the illustrated position of FIG. 4. The inner case 12 also includes a transverse bottom wall 38.

It should also be noted at this point that the operating mechanism 16 includes a shaft 40 which is disposed transversely of the inner case 12 near the upper end of the latter. This shaft is supported for rotation relative to the inner case about its central axis by two cars 42, 42 each of which extends rearwardly from an associated one of the side walls 22, 22 beyond the plane of the back wall 20. Each of these cars is substantially thicker than the walls 22, 22 and on its inner surface is provided with a blind cylindrical opening or recess for rotatably supporting the associated end portions of the shaft 40 as best seen in FIG. 3. It should further be noted that the back walls 20, 20 partially define a generally rectangular opening 44 further defined by the top wall 28 and extending transversely between the ears 42, 42 for accommodating other parts of the operating mechanism to be hereinafter described.

A closure for the inner case 12 is provided by the outer case 18 which receives the inner case in assembly and imparts rigidity and support thereto. The two-piece case construction of the present invention permits a relatively light resilient material to be used in making the inner case.

The outer case 18 may be made from various materials, but preferably it is made from a resilient plastic material such as polyethylene. The exterior configuration of the outer case may vary, but its interior is of such size and shape as to receive the inner case and as to be slidable longitudinally thereof between assembled and disassembled condition therewith. Preferably, andas shown, the outer case is a hollow elongated tubular structure having a generally elliptical transverse cross section so that a portion of its interior transverse cross section generally complements the associated exterior cross section of the inner case 12 and being open at its upper end for receiving the inner case 12. Referring to FIG. 6 it should be noted at this point that in the assembled condition there is a slight clearance or space 45 between the rear walls 20, and the rear portion of the outer case 18, the purpose of which will be hereafter apparent. To permit the assembly of the outer case and the inner case and to provide clearance for the operating mechanism, the outer case 18 includes an upwardly facing generally U-shaped rear opening 46 for receiving the ears 42, 42 and the operating mechanism 16 associated therewith. The outer case also includes a lower wall 48 providing a closure for the lower end thereof and having a hole 50 therethrough. The hole 50 is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 38 and is so arranged to permit an operator to insert his finger therethrough to apply pressure to the bottom wall 38 for initiating the disassembled condition.

Also included in the outer case 18 is a frontal aperture 52 located near the upper end thereof and communicating with the side opening 26 for purposes to be hereinafter further discussed.

It should now be evident that in the assembled condition the inner case 12 and the outer case 18 cooperate to.

define a tube-receiving chamber of generally elliptical transverse crosssectional shape. As will be more evident hereinafter, the interior surfaces of the side walls 22, 22 aid in guiding the squeezer assembly 14 in restraining the same to substantially rectilinear sliding movement relative to the inner case 12, the squeezer assembly having a transverse cross-sectional shape closely conforming to that of the said side walls. The outer case 18 in turn serves to support the resilient side walls 22, 22.

Considering now the squeezer assembly, reference is made to FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7 for detailed description of this part of the illustrated device. As shown in these figures, the squeezer assembly comprises two squeezing elements in the form of a pivotal pressure member 54 and a squeezer block 56 which cooperate to applying the squeezing force to the tube. The pivotal pressure member which is carried by the block 56 is movable between a tube-receiving and a tube-squeezing position when the case is in the disassembled condition and is held in the tube-squeezing position by the outer case when the outer case and the inner case are in the assembled condition.

The squeezer block 56 may take various forms and may be made from various materials, but preferably and as shown, it is a monolithic structure molded from a plastic material such as polyethylene or Teflon which has a relatively low coefficient of friction when used in engagement with other plastic materials. The squeezer block includes a transversely extending back portion 60 and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally disposed forwardly extending side portions 62, 62 as best seen in FIG. 6. The transverse cross-sectional shape of each of the side portions 62, 62 conforms to the cross-sectional shape of an associated wall 22 so that the interior surfaces of these walls aid to guide the squeezer block in the manner aforedescribed.

To retain the squeezer assembly in the inner case and to further aid to guide its movement relative thereto the squeezer block. 56 also includes a retaining element 58 which extends outwardly from the back portion and whichv is received in the slot 23. The back portion 60 and the retaining elements 58 together define a pair of transversely spaced outwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves 64, 64 which receive the slot defining edges 21, 21 best shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. Thus, the squeezer assembly is guided for longitudinal movement relative to the inner case and is restrained against transverse movement relative thereto.

Aslo included in the squeezer block 56 is a forwardly opening recess 66 defined by the back portion 60 and the sides 62, 62 and extending transversely of the block between the sides for receiving the pivotal pressure member 54. The recess 66 includes a transversely extending generally inwardly facing pressure surface 70 defined by the back portion 69 and inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the inner case and curving generally upwardly and outwardly. The surface 70 which provides a means for applying pressure to one side of the tube may be brought into direct engagement with a tube to be squeezed. The curvature of the surface 70 allows the squeezer assembly to move smoothly along the tube as the said assembly moves upwardly relative to the tube. Secured to the lower end of the back portion 60 is a flexible cord 68, which is used to pull the block 56 upwardly within the case during a tube squeezing operation.

The squeezing elements provide the means for applying squeezing pressure to the tube as the squeezer assembly is moved upwardly relative thereto. The pivotal pressure member is arranged to be wedged inwardly toward the squeezer block as a result of the downwardly directed forces applied thereto by the tube as the squeezing assembly is moved upwardly relative to the tube, thereby increasing the squeezing pressure applied to the tube and producing a more effective squeezing action.

As previously noted the pressure member 54 of the present squeezer assembly is supported by the squeezer block 56 and is also arranged for wedging movement as aforestated. It however is further arranged for movement between a tube-receiving and a tube-squeezing position, through the side opening 26, when the outer case 18 is d1sassembled from inner case 12. This novel feature facilitates the convenient movement of tubes into and out of the device through the said side opening. The pressure member is further arranged so as to be held in the tubesqueezing position by engagement with the outer case when the outer case is in assembly with the inner case.

For a detailed description of the pressure member 54, reference is made to FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 and particularly to the pressure member as it appears in solid line or tube squeezing position of FIG. 4. As shown in these figures the pressure member comprises a solid block which may be .made from various materials, but which is preferably made from polyethylene plastic or similar material and which includes an upper portion 76 and a lower portion 78. Like the squeezer block 56 the pressure member 54 also has an inclined generally inwardly facing pressure surface 80 which extends generally longitudinally and curves upwardly and outwardly for some distance in engagement with the surface of the tube when the pressure element is in the tube-squeezing position and provides means for applying pressure to the other side of the tube. The curvature of the surface 80 allows the squeezer assembly to move smoothly along the tube and aids in establishing the proper angle for feeding the tube into the squeezer assembly as the said assembly moves upwardly relative to the tube. As previously indicated, the pressure member is received within the recess 66 and is restrained against transverse movement relative thereto by the lower portion which extends transversely between the sides 62, 62. To provide for both wedging and pivotal movement of the pressure member 54, relative to the squeezer block 58, the lower end portion includes a transversely extending generally cylindrical bore 81 which receives a cylindrical shaft 82 having a diameter substantially smaller than the associated bore diameter. The shaft 82 is rigidly connected to and extends transversely between the sides 62, 62. It will be noted that the pressure member 54 is transversely aligned with the opening 26. Thus, the pressure member is arranged for pivotal movement through the opening 26 between a tube-receiving and a tubesqueezing position, the tube-receiving position being best shown by the solid line position of the pressure element in FIG. 7.

Since the outer case 18 surrounds the inner case 12 in assembly, it will be apparent that the pressure member 54 necessarily moves to the tube-squeezing position when the inner case and the outer case are brought into assembled condition. The pressure member 54 is held in the tube-squeezing position by the engagement of the upper portion 76 with the inner wall of the outer case 18. Due to the novel arrangement of the shaft 82 and the oversized bore 81, the pressure member 54 will move generally toward the squeezer block 56 in response to a generally downwardly directed force upon the said member produced by the resistance of the tube to the upward motion of the squeezer assembly with the result that the tube is tightly squeezed between the squeezer block 56 and the lower portion of the pressure member 54.

Both the pressure member 54 and the squeezer block 56 may contact the sides of the tube to be squeezed. However, at least one longitudinal flexible slab is preferably interposed between the squeezing elements and secured against movement relative to the inner case 12 for frictionally engaging a side of the tube when the latter is received in the inner case and for thereby restraining the tube against longitudinal movement relative to the inner case as the squeezer assembly is moved relative thereto. Such a slab or slabs aids in preventing the walls of the tube from telescoping or accordioning as the squeezer assembly operates thereon, thereby assuring effective squeezing action.

In the presently preferred and illustrated embodiment of the invention two slabs 86 and 87 are employed and arranged so that the pressure elements engage the slabs rather than engaging the tube directly. The slabs are made.

from a relatively thin resilient material so as to be resiliently flexible in the longitudinal direction and capable of bending along transverse lines at the portions thereof engaged by the pressure elements. The material from which the slabs are made may vary. However, preferably and as shown the slab 86 includes an inwardly facing holding surface 88 having a high coeflicient of friction to frictionally grip a side of the tube when the tube and the slab are urged into engagement. The holding surface 88 has an abrasive texture and may constitute a sheet of emery cloth adhered to a locking sheet of resiliently flexible material. Conversely, the slab 87, preferably includes an inwardly facing surface having a relatively low co efficient of friction and for this reason this slab is preferably made from a flexible plastic material such as polypropylene. The use of the slabs allows the squeezer assembly to move smoothly along the length of the tube and aids in maintaining the angle at which the sides of the tube engage the squeezing elements so that the tube is properly fed into the squeezer assembly as the assembly,

moves upwardly relative to the tube. The lower ends of the slabs are glued or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom wall 38.

Means for moving the squeezer assembly 14 longitudinally or upwardly relative to the inner case 12 comprises an oscillatable handle rotatably supported upon an axis fixed relative to the case. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, an operating handle 90 is provided and is loosely angularly received on the shaft 40. As best shown in FIG. 8, the handle 90 includes a first portion 92 which is received by the shaft 40 and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the shaft 40 and a second portion 94 which extends generally perpendicular to the first portion and which in addition to providing a convenient wide surface for engagement with the thumb or finger of the user, also serves to cover or conceal other parts of the operating mechanism. The handle extends generally rearwardly and outwardly from the back wall 20 of the inner case 12. Adjacent the handle is a ratchet wheel 96 which is angularly fixed to the shaft and which cooperates with a driving pawl 98 and a holding pawl or leaf spring 100.

The operating handle is oscillatable between two end positions about the axis of the shaft as shown, for example, by the broken and solid line positions of FIGS. 4 and 8. A tension spring 102 connected between the rear wall 28 and the handle as best shown in FIG. 9, biases the handle outwardly to the end position as shown in the solid lines of FIG. 8. The driving pawl 98 is fixed to the undersurface of the first portion of the handle 90 and is adapted for pivotal movement relative to the handle about a transverse axis indicated at 104. A flat spring 106 connected between the pawl 98 and the handle portion biases the pawl toward engagement with the ratchet wheel as best shown in FIG. 8. Included on the pawl 98 is a small arm 108 which may be manipulated by the finger of the user to swing the pawl against the bias of the spring, or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 8, to remove the pawl frorn engagement from the ratchet whee-l when necessary for inserting a tube in the device as hereinafter described. At this point it should be noted that the handle 90 also includes a cam surface 109 defined by the first portion 92 generally within the opening 44. As viewed relative to the position of the handle 98 shown in FIG. 9 the cam surface 109 is radially inwardly spaced from the shaft 40 and is inclined generally upwardly and inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the inner case 12. The purpose of this cam surface will be hereafter further discussed.

The holding pawl of the present invention is movable between an inactive position out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and an active position in engagement therewith in response to the movement of the inner case relative to the outer case. The holding pawl is arranged in such a manner that it is held in its active position when the inner case and the outer case are in an assembled position and that it is in its inactive position when the inner case and the outer case are fully disassembled.

The construction and arrangement of the holding pawl may valy, but preferably and as shown the holding pawl comprises a longitudinally extending leaf spring which is secured at the lower end to the inner case and which has a free upper end portion 110 for engaging the ratchet wheel 96. The leaf spring 100 includes an outwardly bowed portion 112 which comprises a means for moving the holding pawl between the inactive and the active position in response to the movement of the inner case 12 relative to the outer case 18. When the leaf spring 110 is in the inactive or undeformed position the bowed portion is spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the inner case 18, as best shown in FIG. 8 where the leaf spring 108 is shown in a solid line or undeformed condition. From a purpose that will be hereafter apparent the leaf spring 100 also includes an outwardly facing hearing surface 114 defined by said bowed portion.

When the inner case is assembled with the outer case, the bowed portion 112 engages the inner surface of the outer case 18, and assumes a resilient deformed condition causing the end portion 110 to move to the active position.

In the assembled condition, the spacing between the bowed portion 112 and the outer surface of the inner case 12 is decreased, the leaf spring 100 being generally disposed within the space 44. It will be apparent that in this deformed condition, the bearing surface 114 is biased outwardly in engagement with the inner surface of the outer case 18 and serves to maintain the inner case and the outer case assembled condition.

From the foregoing description and from FIGS. 6 and 8, it will be understood that the arrangement of the ratchet wheel and the pawls 98 and 100 is such that as the operating handle is moved inwardly toward the assembled case from the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the driving pawl 98 will operate to rotate the ratchet wheel and the shafft 40. When the operating handle is moved in the opposite direction or is stationary, the holding pawl 100 will operate through engagement with one of the teeth on the ratchet wheel to hold the ratchet wheel against retrograde movement. The cord 68 which is connected at end to the squeezer assembly block 56 at its other end, is fixed relative to the shaft 40 so that as the shaft is rotated about its axis, the cord is wound thereon, as will be evident from FIG. 4, to pull the squeezer assembly longitudinally of the case and upwardly relative to the tube contained within the case.

With each operation or stroke of the operating handle, the squeezer assembly 58 advances upwardly and a quantity of material is dispensed from the tube. To prevent damage to the device which might possibly be caused by the further manipulation of the operating handle after the squeezer assembly has reached its uppermost position corresponding to the tube being completely empty a means is provided for physically preventing the operation of the handle after the squeezer assembly is moved to the aforesaid position.

In FIG. 9, the handle 90 and the squeezer assembly 58 are shown in the positions occupied after the last allowable stroke of the said handle. As the operating handle 90 is moved through the last allowable stroke, the upper edge of the back 60 engages the cam surface 109, thereby preventing the handle from rotating in a counterclockwise direction or returning to its released position and making impossible further operation of the handle To return the handle 90 to the released position it is necessary to move the squeezer assembly downwardly relative to the inner case 12. The manner in which this downwardly movement is attained is hereafter discussed.

After the squeezer assembly has reached its uppermost or the empty tube position, it is possible that a small quantity of material may still remain in the tube. To permit the discharge from the tube of any such remaining material the aperture 52 is provided. When the squeezer assembly 56 is advanced to the uppermost position as aforedescribed the pressure member is transversely aligned with the aperture 52 which is adapted to an operator to insert his finger therethrough for applying a force to the pressure member to pivot the said member. The pressure member 54 is pivotally supported in a manner which permits it to be pivoted inwardly or toward the tube for some distance beyond the tube squeezing position and against the resistance afforded by the pressure roller 56 thereby causing material remaining in the tube to be disepnsed.

Attention is now directed to the manner in which collapsible tubes are removed from and placed into the tube squeezer. Assume first that the tube in the tube squeezer has been emptied of its contents and that a new tube is to be substituted for the empty tube. The condition of the old tube will correspond to the squeezer assembly 56 having been moved as far as it-will go toward the upper end of the inner case 12. Removal of the old tube is effected by grasping the outer case 12 and inserting a finger through the hole 50 to initiate movement of the inner case to its disassembled condition relative to the outer case. After this initial relative movement the inner case is grasped and slidably removed from the outer case. Considering now only the inner case 12, the driving pawl is released from engagement with the ratchet wheel 90 by applying finger pressure to the small arm 108, and at the same time the squeezer assembly is pulled with the other hand of the user to the lower end of the inner case, the shaft 40 being free at this time to rotate in reverse direction to allow unwinding of the cord therefrom. The final motion to permit removal of the tube is to pivot the pressure member 54 outwardly through the side opening 26. The tube is now lifted out from between the slabs 86 and 87 and through the side opening. A new tube may then be inserted between the slabs and into the squeezer assembly, which assembly in its lowermost position permits insertion of the largest tube for which the device is designed.

After a new tube is properly inserted in the inner case through the side opening the pressure member 54 is pivoted into engagement with the side of the tube. Thereafter the inner case is inserted in the outer case and slidably moved into assembly condition therewith. The operating handle is then oscillated several times to move the squeezer assembly upwardly and in turn push upwardly 0n the tube until the same seats firmly against the top 28. Thereafter, further operation of the operating handle will cause dispensing of the material from the tube.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tube-squeezing device the combination comprising an elongated inner case adapted to receive a collapsible tube to be squeezed, said case including a pair of laterally spaced side walls providing a pair of spaced longitudinally extending edges defining an opening through which a tube such as aforesaid is moved in being placed into and taken from said case and also including a pair of back walls each connected with a respective one of said side walls and having longitudinally extending edge portions laterally spaced from one another to define a longitudinally extending slot, a squeezer assembly disposed within said inner case and longitudinally movable therein, said squeezer assembly being operable to apply squeezing pressure to a tube such as aforesaid as it is so moved, a retaining element carried by said squeezer assembly and received within said slot and engageable with said edge portions of said back walls for guiding said assembly for longitudinal movement relative to said case and for restraining said assembly against transverse movement relative thereto, means for moving said squeezer assembly relative to said case, and an outer case adapted to slidably receive said inner case and to cover said opening and said slot. 7

2. In a tube squeezing device the combination comprising an elongated inner case adapted to receive a collapsible tube to be squeezed with the discharge end of the tube located at the forward end thereof, a squeezer assembly disposed within said inner case and longitudinally movable therein, said squeezer assembly being operable to apply squeezing pressure to said tube as it is so moved, a hollow elongated outer case, said outer case being of such size and shape as to receive said inner case and as to be slidable longitudinally thereof between assembled and disassembled conditions therewith, an oscillatable handle supported upon said inner case for rotation about an axis fixed relative thereto, a ratchet and pawl mechanism driven by said handle and operably associated with said squeezer assembly for longitudinally moving the latter from the lower end of said inner case to the upper end thereof, said ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a driving pawl associated with said handle engageable with said ratchet wheel for moving the latter in response to the movement of said handle and a holding pawl operably engageable with said ratchet wheel for preventing retrograde movement thereof, said holding pawl being movable between an inactive position out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and an active position in engagement therewith, and means for moving said holding pawl between said active and inactive positions in response to movement of said inner case relative to said outer case and in such a manner that said pawl is held in its active position when said outer case is fully assembled with said inner case and is in its inactive position when said outer case is fully disassembled with said inner case, said holding pawl comprising an elongated leaf spring secured to said inner case and extending longitudinally thereof, said leaf spring including a free upper end portion engageable with said ratchet wheel, and said means for moving said holding pawl including an outwardly bowed portion of said leaf spring located adjacent the outer surface of said inner case, said leaf spring having such an uudeformed shape that when said inner case is disassembled from said outer case said outwardly bowed portion of said leaf spring is spaced from said outer surface of said inner case and said free upper end portion thereof is disengaged from said ratchet wheel, said bowed portion when said inner case is assembled with said outer case being engaged by the inner surface of said outer case and being held in a resilient deformed condition thereby at which condition the spacing between said bowed portion and said outer surface of said inner case is decreased and said free end portion is moved into engagement with said ratchet wheel.

3. In a tube squeezing device the combination comprising an elongated inner case adapted to receive a collapsible tube to be squeezed with the discharge nozzle of the tube located at the upper end thereof, said inner case including a pair of laterally spaced side walls extending along the length thereof, said side walls having forward edges defining an opening through which a tube is moved in being placed into and in being taken out of said inner case, a squeezer assembly disposed within said inner case between said two side walls for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said squeezer assembly being operable to supply squeezing pressure to a tube such as aforesaid as it is so moved, means for moving said squeezer assembly relative to said inner case, and a hollow elongated outer case, said outer case being of such size and shape as to receive said inner case and as to be slidable longitudinally thereof between assembled and disassembled conditions therewith, said outer case in its assembled condition surrounding said inner case and pro viding a closure for said side opening phen said outer case is assembled with said inner case and in the zones adjacent said two side walls having a shape conforming to the shape of said two side walls so as to engage said side walls and to be guided thereby in its sliding movement relative to said inner case, said inner case including two longitudinally extending back walls each integral with a respective one of said side walls and having longitudinally extending edge portions laterally spaced from one another to define a longitudinally extending slot, and said squeezer assembly including a retaining element received within said slot and engageable with said edge portions of said back walls for guiding said assembly for longitudinal movement relative to said inner case and for restraining said element against transverse movement relative thereto.

4. In a tube squeezing device the combination comprising an elongated inner case adapted to receive a collapsible tube to be squeezed with the discharge nozzle of the tube located at the upper end thereof, said inner case including a pair of laterally spaced side walls ex tending along the length thereof, said side walls having forward edges defining an opening through which a tube is moved and being placed into and in being taken out of said inner case, a squeezer assembly disposed within said inner case between said two side walls for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said squeezer assembly being operable to apply squeezing pressure to a tube such as aforesaid as it is so moved, means for moving said squeezer assembly relative to said inner case, and a hollow elongated outer case, said outer case being of such size and shape as to receive said inner case and as to be slidable longitudinally thereof between assembled and disassembled conditions therewith, said outer case in its assembled condition surrounding said inner case and providing a closure for said side opening when said outer case is assembled with said inner case and in the zones adjacent said tWo side walls having a shape conforming to the shape of said two side walls so as to engage said side walls and to be guided thereby in its sliding movement relative to said inner case, said squeezer assembly including a block received between said side walls of said inner case and slidable longitudinally thereof, and a pressure member pivotally connected with said block for movement about a transverse pivot axis fixed relative to said block between a tube receiving position and a tube squeezing position, said pressure member being located between said forward edges of said side walls, said pressure member in its tube squeezing position extending forwardly from said transverse pivot axis and being moved to its tube receiving position by moving the forward end thereof outwardly away from said inner case, said pressure member being so constructed and arranged as to be engageable with the inner surface of said outer case and held by such engagement in its tube squeezing position, and said pressure member being so arranged as to be held in said tube-squeezing position by engagement with said outer case when said outer case is assembled with said inner case.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 further characterized by a first means on said pressure member for applying pressure to one side of a tube such .as aforesaid when said member is in its tube-squeezing position, a second means on said block for applying pressure to the other side of a tube such as aforesaid generally opposite said first means, and means supporting said pressure member for movement through said side opening and for movement generally toward said block in response to a generally downwardly directed force upon said member produced by the resistance of a tube such as aforesaid to the upward motion of said squeezer assembly relative thereto.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 further characterized by a transverse shaft carried by said squeezer block, said pressure member having a bore receiving said shaft to pivotally connect said pressure member to said squeezer block, said bore having an internal diameter substantially larger than the external diameter of said shaft.

7. The combination defined in claim 4 further characterized by said squeezer assembly being movable between an upper position and a lower position relative to said inner case, and said outer case including an aperture communicating with said side opening in said assembled condition, said aperture being generally transversely aligned with said pressure member when said squeezer assembly is in said upper position to allow the insertion therethrough of a finger to press said pressure member toward the associated tube.

8. In a tube-squeezing device the combination comprising an elongated inner case adapted to receive a collapsible tube to be squeezed with the discharge end of of the tube located at the forward end thereof, a squeezer assembly disposed within said inner case and longitudin-ally movable therein, said squeezer assembly being operable to apply squeezing pressure to said tube as it is so moved, a hollow elongated outer case, said outer case being of such size and shape as to receive said inner case and as to be slidable longitudinally thereof between assembled and disassembled conditions therewith, an oscillatable handle supported upon said inner case for rotation about an axis fixed relative thereto, a ratchet and pawl mechanism driven by said handle and operably associated with said squeezer assembly for longitudinally moving the latter from the lower end of said inner case to the upper end thereof, said ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a driving pawl associated with said handle engageable with said ratchet wheel for moving the latter in response to the movement of said handle and a holding pawl connected with said inner case and operably engageable with said ratchet wheel for preventing retrograde movement thereof, said holding pawl being movable relative to said inner case between an inactive position out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and an active position in engagement therewith and being biased toward said inactive position, and means on said outer References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,678 4/ 1931 Devlin 222-103 X 12 Smith et al 222-102 X Crewe 222-326 Gellman 206-37 Watson 222-96 D-alle et a1 222-325 X ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TUBE-SQUEEZING DEVICE THE COMBINATION COMPRISING AN ELONGATED INNER CASE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE TO BE SQUEEZED, SAID CASE INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SIDE WALLS PROVIDING A PAIR OF SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGES DEFINING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH A TUBE SUCH AS AFORESAID IS MOVED IN BEING PLACED INTO AND TAKEN FROM SAID CASE AND ALSO INCLUDING A PAIR OF BACK WALLS EACH CONNECTED WITH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGE PORTIONS LATERALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER TO DEFINE A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT, A SQEEZER ASSEMBLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID INNER CASE AND LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE THEREIN, SAID SQUEEZER ASSEMBLY BEING OPERABLE TO APPLY SQUEEZING PRESSURE TO A TUBE SUCH AS AFORESAID AS IT IS SO MOVED, A RETAINING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID SQUEEZER ASSEMBLY AND RECEIVED WITHIN SAID SLOT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID BACK WALLS FOR GUIDING SAID ASSEMBLY FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID CASE AND FOR RESTRAINING SAID ASSEMBLY AGAINST TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SQUEEZER ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID CASE, AND AN OUTER CASE ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE SAID INNER CASE AND TO COVER SAID OPENING AND SAID SLOT. 